President Joe Biden addressed the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade on Friday, condemning their ruling. The Supreme Court ruled to end constitutional protections for abortion rights, now opening the door for many states to impose strict restrictions and overall bans on abortions. It is the first time in at least 80 years that the court has overruled a fundamental constitution right, which Biden called “a realization of an extreme ideology and a tragic error”.
Although only Congress has the ability to re-establish the feral right to abortion, which Biden addressed, he also promised to do everything in his power to protect abortion rights. Dozens of Republican-controlled states across the country are preparing to ban abortions, however Biden said his administration would prevent states from stopping travel in order to access abortion services.
Biden also said that the Food and Drug Administration will protect the distribution of medication that can terminate a pregnancy. Biden said the court is taking us on dangerous path, “With Roe gone, let’s be very clear: the health and life of women in this nation are now at risk”. Congressional Democrats have attempted to codify Roe into law; however, they do not have sufficient votes in the Senate to pass this legislation.
With this being the case, Biden urged voters to elect more democrats in the Midterm elections this November, noting that this would give them the opportunity needed to protect abortion access and other rights. “This fall, Roe is on the ballot. Personal freedoms are on the ballot – the right to privacy, liberty, equality. They’re all on the ballot”.
Many Americans have been outraged by the ruling which overturns a nearly 50-year-old precedent, crowds had gathered outside of the supreme court both to protest and celebrate the ruling. Biden urged people to not engage in violence in response.
It is anticipated that Biden will face questions from his foreign counterparts at several summits which he left for this weekend. He will be attending the G7 summit in Germany as well as the Nato summit in Spain, where others will likely have questions as to why America has stripped away this right which is guaranteed in many peer nations.
